The Freedom Schools Literacy Academy (FSLA) teaching apprentice experience is a meaningful opportunity for Black youth to be in community together and develop educator skills such as classroom setup and curriculum instruction with Black 1st to 3rd graders. This year, The Center for Black Educator Development worked with Zoë Westlund, a 2023 Freedom Schools Literacy Academy teaching apprentice in the Philadelphia region. Zoë is a rising Junior studying Elementary Education at Hampton University. Zoë shares the impact Freedom Schools Literacy Academy 2023 had on her from a Q&A with the Cent ..read more

[This was originally published by the Center’s Founder & CEO Sharif El-Mekki on Philly’s 7th Ward] This week a lot of folks will mark the independence of the United States from Great Britain, but for Black and Brown Americans, and those committed to racial justice, we are feeling something less than celebratory this year (and every year, for that matter). A layered, persistent, and consistent sense of being shackled to our past pervades our communities.    Last week’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that the admissions programs of Harvard University and the University of No ..read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), a nonprofit focused on accelerating innovation in education, has announced the winners of the 2023 ISTE Impact Award, Distinguished District Award, Making It Happen Award, and 20 to Watch Award. This year's recipients will be recognized during ISTELive 2023, June 25-28 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “It’s always great when ISTE has the opportunity to recognize change makers in the field of education,” said Richard Culatta, ISTE CEO. “This year's recipients stretch across the globe from Tunisia to Canada and beyon ..read more

More than 150 educators from across the country attended the inaugural “Thank A Black Teacher” Event at the U.S. Department of Education on May 8, 2023. Supporters nationwide joined virtually, using the hashtags #ThankABlackTeacher and #WeNeedBlackTeachers on social media with stories of how Black teachers have had a positive impact and influence on their lives. To learn more, visit WeNeedBlackTeachers.com Coalition launched at U.S. Department of Education on May 8th to bolster national commitment to rebuilding the Black teacher pipeline - more than 150 educators from across the country atten ..read more

The Center for Black Educator Development (CBED) today announced funding for its initial cohort of Black Teacher Pipeline grantees. The grants, totaling $500,000, were nationally competitive and focused in cities that partner with CBED. Each recipients' mission is aligned with our own to rebuild the national Black teacher pipeline to achieve educational justice and racial equity. We are proud to fund and support the following partners as we work meaningfully to accelerate education reform for Black students and teachers in America’s public schools: Black Girls Love Math Boys Latin of Philadel ..read more

  Do you have something important to present about Black higher education? Apply to speak at UNITE 2023, the premier annual gathering for accelerating strategies and support for Black colleges and universities. SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL BY APRIL 28, 2023. SUBMIT The conference will be held July 17-20, and the pre-conference July 16, all at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.   We seek compelling speakers to lead pre-conference and conference breakout sessions for our 1,000+ attendees, including executives, researchers, advocates and educators from the nation’s 102 Historically Black College ..read more

“I really enjoyed Freedom Schools Literacy Academy and working with the team. I kept returning — even during the pandemic — because I figured that during COVID-19 would be the most important time to lock in and focus. The entire world was on lockdown. If I was ever going to stand up and be a teacher, that was the time.” Servant Leader Apprentice–Noel Baynes  I’m currently in my first year of teaching high school computer science.  To be quite honest, I chose to enter the education profession because I had a lack of support growing up as a young Black male and didn't have a ..read more

Join us in welcoming London Lamar, Memphis Regional Program Director. London will oversee programming for the Center for Black Educator Development's Black Teacher Pipeline in the Memphis area and will be responsible for programmatic and operational success by ensuring seamless day-to-day operations, program implementation, quality control, and team management and development. London has previously served in various roles in the non-profit sector, advancing policies centered on strengthening the public school system and expanding reproductive autonomy. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree ..read more

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Louis Robinson, III, as the Center's new Director, Black Male Engagement. Dr. Robinson is entering his 22ndyear in the field of education. Throughout his tenure in the urban education space, he has served in the capacity of master teacher, coach, mentor, administrator, consultant and public speaker. Dr. Robinson began his career as an adjunct lecturer at Teachers College, Columbia University as part of the inaugural cohort of the Beyond the Bricks program, a media and international community engagement project to encourage and promote community-based solutions t ..read more

We are happy to announce that Rashid Aziz has been hired as Senior Accounting Specialist. In this role, he will be responsible for all day-to-day accounting activities, support the month-end close, financial reporting, and year-end financial audits. He will report to the Controller and assumes the role on March 6, 2023. “Rashid brings his expertise to benefit the Center for Black Educator Development’s needs by successfully achieving an organizational agenda in the most challenging environments,” said Anne Fields, Financial Controller. “Rashid pillars his success in financial analysis and sat ..read more